Effective June 9, SMPD ceased all automatic sharing of ALPR data with outside law enforcement agencies. Going forward, data will only be shared upon formal request and must be tied to a confirmed criminal investigation or prosecution, according to the release. Requesting agencies must complete a formal process, including a non-disclosure agreement, before any data is released.
Some context
SMPD currently uses 19 Flock cameras, according to SMPD’s transparency page.
Flock Safety’s license plate cameras capture still images—not video—of passing vehicles. According to City Council documents, the system identifies a car’s license plate number, make, model, color, and state of registration. All captured data is stored for 30 days to allow time for crime reporting and investigative use.
City officials emphasized that the ALPR system does not use facial recognition, record personal or biometric data, enforce traffic laws, or track a vehicle’s past or future locations.
What’s changing
As part of the policy shift, SMPD has deactivated and plans to permanently remove five ALPR cameras, leaving 14 of the original devices in use. Those remaining will be placed strategically at entry and exit routes across the city.
The department currently operates 12 fixed-location cameras and two mobile units, which are deployed based on investigative needs. According to the city’s website, approximate locations for the remaining cameras can be viewed here:
Per city policy, SMPD will only accept data-sharing requests for the following case types:
- Class B state offenses and above
- Missing or endangered persons
- Stolen vehicles
- Hate crimes
- Sex crimes
- “Be on the Lookout”, or BOLO, reports, including AMBER and Silver Alerts
Audits of ALPR data were not required under the department’s April 2022 policy, but the March 2025 revisions introduced new oversight measures, according to the city website. The current policy mandates at least one audit annually and prohibits automatic data sharing with other agencies, allowing SMPD to better track and monitor internal data use.
To enhance accountability, SMPD now randomly selects 30 queries per month done by SMPD personnel. These audits are designed to verify that every license plate lookup is tied to a specific case number and documented reason, as required by the updated policy.
The department is also working with Flock Safety and city legal staff to amend its contract to prevent the collection of aggregated data unless explicitly requested by the city, according to the news release.
“Building and maintaining public trust is fundamental to our mission,” San Marcos Police Chief Stan Standridge said in the news release. “As we leverage Flock ALPR technology to enhance community safety, we will ensure that clear expectations and usage protocols for Flock ALPR data are regularly communicated and understood throughout the department, reinforcing our commitment to privacy and responsible data stewardship.”
By the numbers
In the past 30 days, the ALPR system recorded 508,964 vehicle detections and 3,221 hits from law enforcement hot lists, according to the city's transparency page. A total of 538 searches were conducted during that time period, though it is not specified how many were performed by SMPD personnel.
The background
Public debate over privacy and data‑sharing safeguards culminated in the June 3 council vote, according to previous Community Impact reporting. Supporters in public comment said the technology delivers real‑time alerts that aid criminal investigations. Critics in public comment said additional oversight was needed and raised concerns that federal agencies, such as the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, could access the data.
